Automatic Zipper

Abstract

The automatic zipper is an apparatus that attaches to the pull tab or the slider of a zipper and a top of a tape or a fastener. The apparatus may attach with, for example, a flexible wire, a snap, a metal form or a flexibly jointed metal form. The apparatus opens the fly when the top tape is separated or the fastener is dis-engaged. The apparatus closes the fly when the top corners of the tape are pulled together to return to their starting (closed) position. The fastener may then be engaged. When the fastener is fastened, the zipper will not open.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an apparatus that operatively connects to the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of a zipper and manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper when the top of a zipper tape 1 is separated from a fastened position or when the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper is returned to the fastened position.

2. Description of Background

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a typical zipper. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a typical zipper comprises a tape 1, a chain 2, a slider 3, a pull tab 4 and may also comprise a top stop 5. A typical zipper further comprises a bottom stop 6 or, in the alternative, an insertion pin 7 and a retainer box 8.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a user actuates a typical zipper by manipulating the pull tab 4 or the slider 3. More specifically, to unfasten the zipper, the pull tab 4 or slider 3 is actuated by manipulating the pull tab 4 or slider 3 in a generally lengthwise direction away from the top stop 5. To fasten the zipper, the insertion pin 7 is inserted into the retainer box 8, and/or the pull tab 4 or slider 3 is actuated by manipulating the pull tab 4 or slider 3 in a generally lengthwise direction towards the top stop 5 and away from the retainer box 8/insertion pin 7 or bottom stop 6.

The operation of a typical zipper requires direct manipulation of the pull tab 4 or slider 3.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus for indirectly manipulating the pull tab 4 or slider 3 to fasten and/or unfasten a zipper. The apparatus operatively connects to the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of a zipper. When the top of a zipper tape 1 is separated from a fastened position the apparatus manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper to unfasten the zipper. When top of a zipper tape 1 is returned to a fastened position the apparatus manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper to fasten the zipper.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a proximal end and a distal end. In this embodiment, the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab 4 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a zipper tape 1.

In an alternative embodiment the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a zipper tape 1.

In another embodiment, the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab 4 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a fastener.

In another embodiment, the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict a typical zipper.

FIGS. 2 through 5 depict embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, the present invention comprises an apparatus for indirectly manipulating the pull tab 4 or slider 3 to fasten and/or unfasten a zipper. The apparatus of the present invention operatively connects to the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of a zipper and a top of a tape 1, a fastener or some similarly suited attachment point. As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, the apparatus may attach to the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of a zipper on a distal end and a top of a tape 1 or fastener on a proximal end with, for example, a flexible wire 12, a snap 13, metal 14 or flexibly jointed metal 15. As also shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, the apparatus may disconnectably attach to the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of a zipper and a top of a tape 1 or top tape extension 9 or fastener 11 with, for example, a flexible wire 12, a snap 13, a metal 14 or flexibly jointed metal 15. The apparatus manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper when the top of a zipper tape 1 is separated from a fastened position or when the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper is returned to the fastened position. When the top of a zipper tape 1 is separated from a fastened position the apparatus manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper to unfasten the zipper. When top of a zipper tape 1 is returned to a fastened position the apparatus manipulates the pull tab 4 or the slider 3 of the zipper to fasten the zipper. Accordingly, the apparatus opens the fly when the top tape 1 is separated or the fastener is dis-engaged and closes the fly when the top corners of the tape 1 are pulled together to return to their starting (closed) position. A fastener may then be engaged. When the fastener is fastened, the apparatus will not function and the zipper will not open.

FIGS. 2 through 5 show embodiments of the present invention where the apparatus comprises a proximal end and a distal end.

In FIG. 2, the apparatus comprises flexible wire 12. In FIG. 3, the apparatus comprises a snap 13. In FIG. 4, the apparatus comprises a metal form 14. In FIG. 5, the apparatus comprises a flexibly jointed metal form 15.

FIGS. 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab 4 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a fastener 11.

FIGS. 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a fastener 11.

FIGS. 2C, 3C, 4C and 5C show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus, which is designed to operatively connect to a fastener 11, is disconnected from the fastener 11.

FIGS. 2D, 4D and 5D show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab 4 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects zipper tape 1 or the top tape extension 9.

FIGS. 2E, 4E and 5E show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus operatively connects to zipper tape 1 or the top tape extension 9.

FIGS. 2F, 4F and 5F show embodiments of the invention in which the distal end of the apparatus operatively connects to a slider 3 of a zipper and the proximal end of the apparatus, which is designed to operatively connect to a zipper tape 1 or the top tape extension 9 is disconnected from zipper tape 1 or the top tape extension 9.

While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to embodiments thereof, it should be understood that variations and modification can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for opening and closing a zipper, said apparatus comprising:

a proximal end; and

a distal end;

wherein said distal end of said apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab or slider of a zipper; and

wherein said proximal end of said apparatus operatively connects to a top tape, a top tape extension or a fastener proximal to a top tape or top tape extension.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said apparatus is disconnectably operatively connected to a top tape, a top tape extension or a fastener proximal to a top tape or top tape extension.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where said apparatus is a flexible wire.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, where said apparatus is solid metal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where said apparatus is flexibly jointed metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said flexibly jointed metal is hinged metal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a snap.

8. A method for opening and closing a zipper, the method comprising: providing an apparatus for opening and closing a zipper, said apparatus comprising:

a proximal end; and

a distal end;

wherein said distal end of said apparatus operatively connects to a pull tab or slider of a zipper; and

wherein said proximal end of said apparatus operatively connects to a top tape, a top tape extension or a fastener proximal to a top tape or top tape extension;

separating said top tape, top tape extension or fastener out of a fastened position so as to manipulate the apparatus to unfasten the zipper; and

returning said top tape, top tape extension or fastener to the fastened position so as to manipulate the apparatus to fasten the zipper.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said proximal end of said apparatus is disconnectably operatively connected to a top tape, a top tape extension or a fastener proximal to a top tape or top tape extension.

10. The method of claim 8, where said apparatus is a flexible wire.

11. The method of claim 8, where said apparatus is solid metal.

12. The method of claim 8, where said apparatus is flexibly jointed metal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said flexibly jointed metal is hinged metal.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said apparatus is a snap.